WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders called the presence of the USS Eisenhower in Syrian coastal waters a dangerous indication that the Obama Administration might be preparing a military intervention. The Eisenhower is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that holds eight fighter bomber squadrons and 8,000 troops.

Greens voiced opposition to U.S. troop involvement or airstrikes on Syria, saying that a military intervention by the U.S. and/or NATO in Syria would very likely cause far more civilian deaths, without resolving the country's internal conflict, as well as risk a greater war in Syria or in the region.

"Before the Obama Administration sends troops or drones into Syria, we should remember the devastation caused by U.S. invasions and interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya. In Iraq's case, deposing a dictator triggered a civil war that killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians, as well as over 5,000 U.S. troops, and destroyed Iraq's infrastructure. The war in Afghanistan is still going on and has expanded to include civilian-killing U.S. drone attacks on Pakistan," said Romi Elnagar, Louisiana Green and member of the Green Party's International Committee (http://www.gp.org/committees/intl).

Greens questioned the reliability of "anonymous government sources" citing intelligence reports, without any evidence, that President Assad might be preparing to deploy chemical weapons against his own people.

"The Bush Administration used phony claims about WMDs, secret Iraq alliance with al-Qaeda, yellow cake uranium deals to justify the invasion of Iraq. The Obama Administration, which has adopted the Bush-Cheney neocon policy of military aggression for U.S. strategic goals, is equally capable of engaging in public deception and propaganda strategies," said Darryl! Moch, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.

Green Party leaders said that the Syria situation and danger of U.S. intervention cannot be separated from other conflicts in the region and the U.S.'s own geopolitical interests. These include the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the attack on Libya, aid for Israel's military actions against Gaza, strategies to gain control over oil resources in Middle Eastern and north African nations, and ongoing threats and sanctions against Iran over alleged but unproven plans to develop nuclear arms.

The Green Party has consistently opposed U.S. military aggression in these countries, with former Green presidential candidates Cynthia McKinney (nominated in 2008; see http://www.facebook.com/CynthiaMcKinney / http://www.allthingscynthiamckinney.com) and Jill Stein (2012, http://www.jillstein.org) sharply criticizing Bush and Obama administration policies and violations of U.S. and international law in launching attacks. Greens also oppose the contribution of U.S. warplanes to Egypt in response to street protests there.

"The Green Party strongly supports democratic movements and wants to see dictators like Assad ousted from power. But U.S. military interventions and attempts to impose U.S. political and economic policies have too often been detrimental to democracy and human rights in other countries, sometimes with major loss of civilian lives. We must encourage and aid democratic movements around the world without deploying troops and dropping bombs. Any new attacks on countries in the Middle East, including Syria or Iran, will risk a greater regional conflict and will confirm that the view that the U.S. is waging permanent war against the Muslim and Arab world," said Dr. Michael Sonnleitner, co-chair of the Peace and Conflict Studies Program at Portland Community College (Oregon), Fulbright Scholar to India (2009-2010), and International Committee member representing the Pacific Green Party of Oregon.